The Lexile Framework for Reading is a scientific approach to measuring text difficulty and reading ability, putting both texts and readers on the same scale to accurately match readers to texts. The Lexile scale ranges from 200L for a beginning reader to 1700L for advanced texts. Lexiles are instrument independent. By using the same method and scale to measure readers and text, they are quite accurate. By matching readers and texts, Lexiles move beyond just a test score. They apply to everyday reading.
Lexile measures allow you to manage comprehension. Matching a reader’s Lexile measure to a text with the same Lexile measure leads to an expected 75% comprehension rate—not too difficult to be frustrating, but difficult enough to be challenging and to encourage reading progress. You can further adjust anticipated comprehension simply by choosing more or less difficult texts within a student's Lexile range. The 50L at the high end of a student's Lexile range is his/her instructional reading level; at this level a student will need assistance to comprehend the text. The 100L at the lower end of a student's range is his/her independent reading level. The point between these two ranges is where 75% comprehension occurs.
Lexile measures are based on two well-established predictors of how difficult a text is to comprehend: word frequency and sentence length. To read more about exactly how Lexile measures of texts are calculated, see The Lexile Framework as an Approach for Reading Measurement and Success at the Lexile website.
To compare how Lexile scores compare to reading levels used by other programs and publishers, go to www.leveledreading.com.
What information is available at the Lexile website (www.lexile.com)?
Use the Lexile Analyzer to receive a Lexile rating for a particular body of text. Before using the Lexile Analyzer tool for the first time, you must first fill out the free online registration form to choose your personal ID and password to access the tool. Also, be sure the text you are analyzing is in a text document format (ending extension is .txt as opposed to, say, an MS Word document ending in .doc) before submitting it for analysis.
Search the Lexile Book Database to find titles within certain Lexile ranges or to find the Lexile score of a particular title.
Use the Lexile Calculator to calculate the reading ability a reader needs to demonstrate a certain comprehension percentage for a given text. (For example, what Lexile range would a student need in order to comprehend a given text at a 75% rate?) Also, given a particular text, you can calculate the expected comprehension rate for a reader with a given Lexile range.
Lexile Lingos measures the English vocabulary development of students for whom English is a second language.
Use the Lexile Map to see a graphic representation of texts and titles matched to appropriate levels of reading ability.
Lexile Power Vocabulary offers a systematic and individualized series of vocabulary development activities designed to improve reading comprehension in students in grades 2 through 12.
Lexile Reader/Writer allows teachers to assign material to students for reading and then audit their reading comprehension, and writing and summarization skills.
Use Lexile Reading Pathfinders to help readers select texts that relate to particular topics within their Lexile range.
Use the Lexile Vocabulary Analyzer to generate a Lexile measure for individual words so educators can match vocabulary words to the student's Lexile level.
How can I use Lexile scores in my classroom?
Develop individualized reading lists that are tailored to provide to appropriately challenging reading.
Identify class texts that will be a challenge for some or all of the students in your class. Scaffold those texts to ensure a greater class-wide comprehension rate for a particular unit or assignment.
Enhance thematic teaching by building a bank of titles at varying levels that not only support the theme but provide a way for all students to successfully participate in the theme. Use Reading Pathfinders at lexile.com or NWEA's set of Reading Pathfinders available on the NWEA Document Library.
Use as an additional organizing tool when sequencing materials to ensure that the reading materials you use with your class increase in difficulty as the school year progresses.
Develop a reading folder that goes home with students and comes back for weekly review. The folder can contain a reading list of books within the student's Lexile range, reports of recent assessments and a parent form to record reading that occurs at home.
Choose texts lower in the student’s Lexile range when factors make the reading situation more challenging, threatening or unfamiliar. Select texts at or above the student’s range to stimulate growth when a topic is of extreme interest to a student, or when you will be adding additional support such as background teaching or discussion.
Support book selection and create booklists within a student’s Lexile range to help the student make informed choices when selecting texts.
Have students use the Lexile Analyzer to Lexile their own writing in order to track improvement over time.
Sources:
Lennon, Colleen and Hal Burdick. The Lexile Framework as an Approach for Reading Measurement and Success. April 2004. The Lexile Framework for Reading. Lexiles in the Classroom. 2004. The Lexile Framework for Reading. The Lexile Tour Guide. Revised 8/2006. Northwest Evaluation Association.
Lexile Scores
What are Lexile scores?
The Lexile Framework for Reading is a scientific approach to measuring text difficulty and reading ability, putting both texts and readers on the same scale to accurately match readers to texts. The Lexile scale ranges from 200L for a beginning reader to 1700L for advanced texts. Lexiles are instrument independent. By using the same method and scale to measure readers and text, they are quite accurate. By matching readers and texts, Lexiles move beyond just a test score. They apply to everyday reading.Lexile measures allow you to manage comprehension. Matching a reader’s Lexile measure to a text with the same Lexile measure leads to an expected 75% comprehension rate—not too difficult to be frustrating, but difficult enough to be challenging and to encourage reading progress. You can further adjust anticipated comprehension simply by choosing more or less difficult texts within a student's Lexile range. The 50L at the high end of a student's Lexile range is his/her instructional reading level; at this level a student will need assistance to comprehend the text. The 100L at the lower end of a student's range is his/her independent reading level. The point between these two ranges is where 75% comprehension occurs.
Lexile measures are based on two well-established predictors of how difficult a text is to comprehend: word frequency and sentence length. To read more about exactly how Lexile measures of texts are calculated, see The Lexile Framework as an Approach for Reading Measurement and Success at the Lexile website.
To compare how Lexile scores compare to reading levels used by other programs and publishers, go to www.leveledreading.com.
What information is available at the Lexile website (www.lexile.com)?
How can I use Lexile scores in my classroom?
Sources:
Lennon, Colleen and Hal Burdick. The Lexile Framework as an Approach for Reading Measurement and Success. April 2004. The Lexile Framework for Reading.
Lexiles in the Classroom. 2004. The Lexile Framework for Reading.
The Lexile Tour Guide. Revised 8/2006. Northwest Evaluation Association.